Toy



Aug. 26, 1941 M.H. LARRABEE T OY Filed Nov. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MarsMlHLarrabee, I

Aug. 26, 1941. M; H. LARRABEE 2,254,153

a v TOY z I Filed Nov. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y MarsfiaZHLarraZee,

Patented Aug. 26, 1941' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE TOY Marshal H. Larrabee, Skaneateles, N. Y.

Application November 19, 1940, Serial No. 366,299

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and novel toy, and more particularly to a toy railway construction outfit, the elements whereof are designed for assembly in many various forms and combinations to simulate real railroads and other real objects amusing to children.

Special features and points of novelty of the toy will be noted in the following detailed description of the drawings, whereof:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a track and train in accordance with the invention, the track including two inclined sections or ramps;

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top view of two track sections, showing the joining means;

Fig. 4 is a top view of two inclined or ramp sections of track;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the upper ramp section shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a curved track section;

Fig. 6a is a section on the lines 6a.6a in Fig.

Fig. 7 is a top view of a switch;

Fig. 7a is a section on the lines la-Ja in Fig. '7;

Fig. 8 is a top view of a cross-over;

Fig. 9 is a side view illustrating the operation of a ramp section with a. train;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic top view illustrating a track lay-out;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating the track constructed to imitate a coal siding;

Fig. 12 i a side view illustrating track sections and two inclined sections in a bridg 'lay-out; and

Fig. 13 illustrates two incline sections of track in the form of a vessel.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the toy train forming part of the set is very simple in construction, the bodies of engine and cars being preferably shaped from small blocks of wood. The couplers shown are simple hooks and eyes 2|. An engine 22, coal car 23, and a car 24 are illustrated, and any number of additional cars may be provided. The wheels 25 are wooden discs rotatably secured to the sides of the bodies by round headed nails 26. It is important that the underbodies of the engine and cars be smooth, flat, and unobstructed,"

as shown, for reasons to appear below.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the train is shown mounted on straight track section l8, of'which any desired number may be provided. Ramp sections 32 and 32a are at opposite ends of the straight sections l8.

The track elements are shaped from narrow strips of wood rectangular in cross section. The

wheel guiding means (taking the place of rails) are parallel grooves 21 near theedges of the strips, spaced to conform with the wheel gauge of the cars, and leaving a raised flat center portion 28 and edges 28a. As shown in Fig. 3, adjoining sections of track are joined together by a tongue 29 and a slot 30. The tongue, and the walls of the slot 30, are laterally bored to receive a pin 3|. Sufilcient clearance is provided in the lateral portions of the joint so formed, to permit connected track sections to take different angular and planar relation-ships.

In Fig. 4 are illustrated two incline, or ramp sections 32 and 32a, for particular use at the ends of sections (one or more) of regular track, section 32 having a tongue 29 and section 32a having a slot 30. Otherwise their construction is similar. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 at the point 33, the wheel guiding means is a continuation of the grooves 21 and center portion 28 of the regular track sections: at the point 34 grooves 2! become inclined shoulders 31 which slope toward the ground with a greater degree of slope than does the tongue-like central portion 38 inclining from the center portion 28. The portion 38 is narrowed or sharpened at its tip. The reasons for, and the advantages of, the particular construction of the ramp sections here described will be shown with reference to Fig. 9.

Fig. 6 shows a curved track section 40, having a tongue 29 and slot 30 at its respective ends, like the straight track sections. As shown in Fig. 611, this piece is preferably formed with the curved parallel wheel guiding slots 21a on both sides, so that it is reversible, providing a right or left hand curve whether the adjacent section has a tongue or a groove at its end.

Fig. 7 shows a switch 4| having a slot 30 at the single track end and two tongues 29 at the double track end. The formation of the pairs of diverging parallel wheel grooves 21b may be easily seen from the figure. As shown in Fig. In, this piece is preferably grooved on both sides, and similar switches (not illustrated) may be made having the tongue at the single trackend and two slots at the double track end.

Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-over piece 42 having two tongues 29 and two slots 30. The formation of the crossing wheel grooves 210 is clear from the drawing.

The function of the ramp sections is graphically illustrated in Fig. 9. One advantage of these, in combination with the other track sections described, and the train forming part of the invention, is that the track need not be continuous, i. e., for example, several sections of track, with ramps 2 a a,as4,1ss

vening spaces of floor without the necessity of connecting all combinations of sections together. The result is an extremely flexible construction set, capable of many different arrangements, and

with relativel few parts compared to ordinary train and track combinations. The ramp sections are therefore especially de- Joined together, and to the hull, as by providin tions II, and the straight section Ila forming the span, supported by blocks II and It.

The ramp sections have other uses than in a railway. In Fig. 13. ramps 82 and 820 have been 5 Joined to each other by a pin it and inverted to formthe hull of a vessel, in this case a similitude of a ferry boat, with the superstructure formed of blocks II and 84. Although not shown in the drawings, the superstructure may be easily peas and peg holes.

It will be understood that the flgures are merely given as illustratory examples of some of the uses or combinations in which the elements of signed to guide the wheels of a train of cars the invention maybeused, and are not intended onto the track sections and into the wheel guiding grooves thereof, without derailment. In Fig. 9, such a train, supposed to be moving from left to right, is shown mounting the ramp section 12. It will be seen that, due to the construction of tongue SI and shoulders 31 as described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, at point I the wheels still contact the ground while the flat underbody' 'of the car passes over and clears by a small margin the narrowed tip of tongue ll. At the same point 45 also. it will be understood that the sides of tongue 38 begin to contact the inside surfaces of any wheels out of line with the ramp and straighten them. At the point 46 the depth of the tongue is greater than the clearance of the underbody so that the car briefly is lifted clear of the wheels and slides on the underbody. This action further centers the cars, and insures that the wheels thereof will be directly over the shoulders 31, with which the wheels begin to make contact at approximately the point 41.

This construction insures automatic guidance of the train wheels into the wheel grooves 21 without any requirement of skill on the part of the operator. In fact, all that is necessary is to guide the leading car, or engine, so that it will straddle the tip of tongue II, and its wheels and the wheels of the following cars will be aligned automatically by the tongue 18, even though the train is not approaching in a direct line with the ramp section.

Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically a sample track construction employing straight track sections is, curved sections ll, a switch I, cross-over 42 and ramp sections 32 and 32a (two). Many other constructions of level track will be obvious.

Due to the particular construction of the track sections and their joining means, which have been previously indicated to be relatively flexible on the horizontal axis of pins 3i, it is possible to construct layouts with joined track sections at relatively different elevations and inclines. Fig. 11 gives an example in the form of an elevated and inclined track combination intended to simulate a coal siding. Since track sections are severally rigid, and since a series of joined sections will not turn sideways or'twist relative to one another due to the nature of the joining means, the supporting means for elevated sections may be very simple. In Fig. 11 such means consist of blocks 50 and SI, a variety of which in various dimensions and lengths are provided in the set. Other elements in said flgure are the ramp section 32a, straight sections it,

straight section Ila (of extra length), and car In Fig. 12 a bridge construction is shown consisting of the range 32 and 32a. the straight secto limit the scope thereof.

Likewise, where materials and dimensions do not affect the function or objects of the invention, any that are suitable may be used. However, the track and train constructed of simple wooden pieces as here described is extremely cheap to construct, and simplicity is preferred for this reason. The train or any like vehicle used with the combination may have its own motive power.

The following dimensions may be found useful in constructing an embodiment of the invention:

In a complete set the track and train elements whereof have the above dimensions, blocks to complete bridge constructions, or stations, ships, or the like, may be provided in numbers and dimensions as follows:

I Inches 2pieces 9xlx1 2 pieces 9 x 1% x A 2pieces -..9x%x /2 4pieces 6x1'x1 2 pieces 6 x 1% x ,5 2pieces "6: 15:55 4pieces 3x1x1 2 pieces 2 x 1% x 4 pieces 1% x 1 x 1 4pieces 1%x1%x 8pieces l%x%x% Gpieces ..1x1x1 For the purposes of the'speciflcation and claims the word "train is intended to include any wheeled toy or connected numbers thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a toy of the type described, the combinaconnecting said plane surface with said grooves,

and having means in advance of said grooves for aligning said wheels and guiding the same into said grooves when said train is caused to approach and mount said ramp section from said plane surface.

guiding and aligning the wheels to insure properentry into said grooves.

3. In a toy of the-type described, the combination of a train having wheels for operation on tracks or on a plane surface; a track section. having track elements comprising a pair of spaced parallel grooves; and an inclined ramp section connecting said plane surface and said grooves and having guiding meansin advance of said grooves contacting the inner sides of the wheels and the underbody of the train when the latter is caused to approach over said ramp section,

thereby guiding said wheels into said grooves in proper alignment.

4. A toy according to claim 3 wherein the guiding contact is made between a smooth unobstructed underbody on the train, and a smooth flat raised portion of the ramp section.

5. In a toy of the type described, the combination of a train having wheels for operation on tracks or on a plane surface; a track section having track elements comprising a pair of spaced parallel grooves; and an inclined ramp section connecting said plane surface and said grooves, and having centering means contacting the underbody of the train and supporting the same out of contact with the ground when said train is caused to approach over said ramp section,

thereby guiding said wheels into said grooves in proper alignment.

6. In a toy of the type described, the combination of a train having wheels for operation on tracks or on a plane surface; a track section having track elements comprising a pair of spaced parallel grooves; and a ramp section having inclined ways connecting said plane surface and said grooves, and having a central tapered member extending beyond said ways and contacting the inner sides of the wheels when said train is .caused toapproach over said member, for guiding said wheels over said ways and thence into said grooves.

7. In a toy as described in claim 6, the tapered member of the ramp element being a tonguelike member further characterized by having a the underbody of the train.

8. In a toy of the type described, a reversible curved track element comprising a strip of material having difierent joining means at its OPPO- site ends, the means at one end being adapted to form a joint when connected with means of the opposite kind on another track element, and wheel guiding means on opposite sides of said strip.

9. In a toy of the type described, a ramp element having wheel guiding means comprising a pair of spaced parallel grooves on one of its sides. and an inclined sharpened tongue of said side co-operating with said grooves; said ramp element being reversible to simulate the hull of a toy vessel.

10. In a toy of the type described in claim 9, said ramp element being further characterized by having a fiat surface on its side opposite the wheel guiding means to simulate the deck of a vessel when reversed.

. MARSHAL H. LARRABEE. 

